Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

By Commonwealth Club of CaliforniaNews Government Politics

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Commonwealth Club of California Podcast episodes

May 26, 2020 Chronicle Food Critic Soleil Ho: Foodie with an Agenda
The San Francisco Chronicle entered a new era of restaurant criticism in 2019 when longtime critic Michael Bauer retired and was succeeded by Soleil Ho. Quick to set herself apart from her predecessor, Ho freely mixes thoughts on racism, cultural appropriation and other hot-button topics into her reviews. Her "Racist Sandwich" podcast was nominated for multiple awards, and in 2018 she received the Southern Foodways Alliance Smith Symposium Fellowship and a UC Berkeley-11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship. Join us for a conversation with a young—and controversial—voice in the Bay Area's boisterous food culture.

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1 hr 5 min
May 25, 2020 Flourishing in a New Normal
A "blinding flash of the obvious" will be striking The Commonwealth Club. And why do we need it now, so badly? Because, the “new normal” has imprinted itself, on the world, and most people do not know how to adapt successfully. Steven Campbell says that success comes from how we think! He will present an eye-opening look at the latest research on how our brains conform to the messages we give them. When we optimize those messages, he says, our brains will literally rewire themselves, again, to create new, positive ways, of dealing with the challenges we are facing. It's not magic . . . it's science! His key take-aways: First, a practical knowledge of cutting-edge brain research on meeting the challenges of the "new normal," and, second, an understanding of the relationship between your brain and your emotions and how to train them both to your advantage. Campbell acquired his Masters degree—when he was 55—to pursue his greatest love, teaching. He then became a professor, author, and professional speaker. He holds workshops around the world on cognitive psychology. He also hosts a two-hour weekly radio program on Wednesday mornings—named after his successful book Making Your Mind Magnificent—on KOWS 92.5 FM. MLF Organizer: Denise Michaud MLF: Grownups

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59 min
May 25, 2020 History in the Present: The Pandemic and Civic Learning
Since the early days of the United States, the country’s leaders have understood that the success of our democratic republic depends on a knowledgeable electorate of citizens who are informed about contemporary issues and who understand how government works. The current pandemic comes at a time when that standard is being threatened by deep partisan divisions, disagreements about the role of federal and state government in citizens’ daily lives, and distrust of political leadership. In the past, when the country faced a crisis of such broad magnitude—the Great Depression, World War II—political leaders were able to use the moment to unify the nation and renew faith in America’s civic structures. Despite our current divisions—already on display as the country debates reopening—can the pandemic and the response to it point to new ways of bringing people together to work for a common good? If so, how can we realize this promise, now and in the future? In particular, what role can a comprehensive civics education, balancing civic knowledge and civic engagement, play in engaging K-12 students from all backgrounds in a renewed commitment to American civic life and its democratic principles? Four national leaders from across the United States will discuss the possibility of using this unique moment in American history to forge a new future for the nation and help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. This unique program will help launch the Commonwealth Club’s new focus on civics education.

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1 hr 6 min
May 25, 2020 Madeleine Albright: Hell and Other Destinations
In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America’s first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered. “I don’t want to be remembered,” she answered. “I am still here and have much more I intend to do. As difficult as it might seem, I want every stage of my life to be more exciting than the last.” So she has continued to write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, and spend more time with her grandchildren. For nearly 20 years, Secretary Albright has been in constant motion. Her new memoir is blunt, intimate, funny, and serious. An excellent basis for a rare, candid visit with one of America’s most memorable and revered public figures. Join us to hear Secretary Albright's outlook on the world . . . past, present and post-COVID.

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1 hr 7 min
May 25, 2020 CLIMATE ONE: COVID-19 and Climate: The Future of Energy
After decades spent trying to reach 100 million barrels of daily production, the oil industry is devastated from the sudden evaporation of demand. Renewables are also taking a big hit with projections that half of America’s solar workers will lose their jobs. Federal relief packages are bailing out airlines and public transportation, while excluding any help for clean energy. What are the energy impacts of the COVID-19 recession? How will this reshape use of renewables and hydrocarbons in the years to come? Join us for a conversation with Jason Bordoff, founding director of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, Amy Harder, energy and climate change reporter at Axios, Scott Jacobs, CEO & co-founder of Generate Capital, and Julia Pyper, co-host of the Political Climate Podcast.

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54 min
May 25, 2020 Andy Slavitt: A Bipartisan Approach to Fighting the Pandemic
Andy Slavitt was brought in by the Obama administration to fix Healthcare.gov after a disastrous rollout and then asked to stay on to head Medicare and Medicaid. Since leaving government, he’s been one of the fiercest critics of the current administration’s efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and combat COVID-19. Yet his approach to changing health care and fighting the pandemic has been deliberately bipartisan, and he informally advises leading Republicans as well as Democrats. Slavitt teamed with former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to propose a $46.5 billion plan for COVID-19 contact tracing and isolation and was lead author of an open letter entitled “Stay Home, Save Lives” signed by 16 top Republican and Democratic figures. Listen to one of our country’s savviest health professionals discuss what’s next for fighting the pandemic in a bipartisan fashion.

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1 hr 7 min
May 24, 2020 Reducing Nuclear Weapons: Stopping the War That No One Wants
The ongoing pandemic has shown us what indiscriminate worldwide destruction looks like. A nuclear war would do infinitely more damage in a shorter time and recovery, if possible at all, would take years. Russia says it’s created hypersonic weapons. Kim Jung Un refuses to give up his nuclear program. Iran is enriching uranium. The current START treaty expires in February 2021. Join a seasoned panel to discuss what the United States and others can do at this crucial point in history to reduce weapons and decrease the chances of devastating war.

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1 hr 10 min
May 22, 2020 Halting Bigotry in Its Tracks
How can we stop repeating history? Sadly, the United States has had a long history of prejudice and racism against Asians and other marginalized communities in this country, starting before the Chinese Exclusion Act, to the Second World War Japanese-American incarceration, and the McCarthy witch hunting era in the Chinese-American community, through the Civil Rights Movement to the Vincent Chin murder and continuing to xenophobia targeting Muslims and the AMEMSA (Arab Middle Eastern Muslim South Asian) community. Join us for a discussion about how people can stop repeating history and end racism for all.

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1 hr 4 min
May 19, 2020 David Plouffe: How to Beat Donald Trump
David Plouffe is one of the leading Democratic political strategists around. He led Barack Obama to victory in 2008 and remains one of his most trusted advisers. Following his public service, he worked for Uber as the senior vice president of policy and strategy before joining the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2017. A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump is Plouffe’s guide for the 2020 voter on how to make a difference. Plouffe draws on decades' worth of experience to coach voters on what they can do every day, from the comfort of their homes, to ensure Donald Trump’s defeat. His advice is simple: Change will only happen from action and direct dialogue from citizen to citizen. For those invested, Plouffe argues that the time to start is now. Join political strategist David Plouffe as he gives us a pragmatic and motivational guide on how to tackle the electoral road ahead.

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1 hr 8 min
May 18, 2020 CLIMATE ONE: Storytelling Through the Climate Crisis
How do we confront the reality of a future that will be hauntingly different from today? Some authors are using fiction to create relatable narratives while sparing us from a deluge of sobering facts that can make audiences feel detached. The dystopian worlds in the films Mad Max and The Hunger Games do the same to both entertain and distance viewers from the realities of an increasingly destabilized climate. Can fiction give access to hopes and fears that we can’t handle in our daily lives? How are authors like Jenny Offill and Roy Scranton using stories that let readers experience climate change, while also keeping it at arms’ length?

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54 min

About Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's largest public affairs forum. The nonpartisan and nonprofit Club produces and distributes programs featuring diverse viewpoints from thought leaders…